Depression range-finder.



Patented Apr. 13, 1909. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

inventos l W H m MW-5J. mww l wmmmm H m. M am. v umn M {1I/ um n.; h Il .l 1% Nm., MN .NWN NQQMQQ @mfc a N WN Q TIHIIHII Il ||||.I Ill Mwnull wll: IGM l MN .QN M i511--- Nomar: PET Rs D. VON N AGY. vDEPRESSION RANGE FINDER. APPLIoATIoN FILED nno.9,19o7.

918,191. Patented Apr.13, 1909.

2 SHEETS-BHBET 2.

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DESIDERIUS VON NAGY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO BAUSCH & LOMB OPTICAL COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW

NEW YORK.

YORK, A CORPORATION OF DEPRESSION RANGE-FINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 1s, rece.

Application :filed December 9, 19U7. Serial No. 405,696.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Dnsrnnnrus voN NAGY, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Depression Range-Finders; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, and to the reference characters marked thereon.

The present invention, which relates to depressiQn range finders of the type disclosed in my application, Serial No. 403,487, iiled November 23, 1907, wherein is disclosed a construction having provision for correcting the instrument Jirom a plurality oil known points `for the curvature of the earth and the refraction of the atmosphere, has i'or an object to provide a construction having provision Afor making corrections from known points intermediate the limits oi the range oi' the instrument..

To these and other ends the instrument consists 'in certain improvements and combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings: Figure 1 represents a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing a range iinder constructed in accordance with this invention; Fig. 2 represents a section on the line a-a oi' Eig. 1; Fig. 3 represents a plan view of the construction shown in Eig. 1 with the telescope and its cradle removed; Eig. l represents a detail view partly in section showing one of the adjusting devices l'or the guides; and Fig. 5 is a diagram to illustrate the theory of the invention, the lines representing the depression oi' the telescope being shown at eX- aggerated angles to the base or sea level.

lvlhile as stated ini my application above mentioned correction from two known points for the curvature oi the earth and the refraction of the atmosphere will render the instrument substantially correct for intermediate points, nevertheless when these two points are located at a very great distance from each other the readings have not sutlicient accuracy.

l i l l i l l l With this invention when the limits o'l' the range of the instrument are at such a distance that the readings for intermediate positions are not accurate, the instrument may be corrected lor one or more intermediate positions.

As in my previously mentioned application the telescope is mounted to turn about a horizontal axis and has a support S for turning it about its anis Vfmovable horizontally a distance proportional to the range oi' the instrument, and having a height roportional to the height oi axis of the te escope above sea level. The telescope is adjusted until the indicating means registers the distance oi' a known object A, when the optical axis of the telescope will be directed at a point A on the dot and dash line X representing sea level (neglecting the etiect of the curvature ol' the earth) which is parallel to the dot and dash lineY representing the line on which the horizontal support moves. rThe object A, however, owing to the retraction oi the atmosphere will appear to be located at a point A and, therefore, the telescope is adiusted independently ol` the indicater in order that the object will be properly imaged on the cross hairs and the instrument corrected for the curvature of the earth and retraction of the atmosphere at this point. The instrument is now corrected from known points B, C, D and E, in the same manner as 'from the point A, the telescope by its iirst adjustments being directed at points B', C, D and E respectively, and

Vthen at the re'l'racted images B, C l and 7 E, the curve oi' the refraction being indicated by line Z, and the curve oi' the guide on the telescope Jfor the horizontally movable support being indicated by lines G.

As a preferred manner oi constructing this invention, there is employed a base or pedestal 1 on which a suitable azimuth table 2 is supported by leveling devices f3, so that the rotary support 4 may turn about true vertical axis 5 in order that the Yfinder may be pointed in any direction, a ball bearing ring 6 being interposed between the azimuth table and the rotary support to permit the latter to turn Yfreely. The

erably comprises a worm wheel 7 integral with the table and engaged by a worm 8 which is'mounted on the rotary support 4 and operated by a crank arm 9 at one end l thereof, a scale 10 on the table being visible through a window 11 in the support 4 and indicating the position of the latter.

The telescope 12 is carried by the rotary support which for this purpose is provided with a pair of uprights 13 having bearings at their upper ends to receive trunnions 14 on a cradle 15 the telescope being clamped to the cradle by a clamping plate 16, and the cradle having a rear extension 17 for carr f*- ing the guide (to be described) for the horizontally movable support 18 which is also mounted on the rotary support and forms part of the mechanism for turning the telescope about its horizontal axis 14 being guided on the rotary support 4 on a track 19 so that it can move in the direction of the axis of the telescope, its movement being referably effected by a screw 2() extending lbngitudinally of the track and journaled in bearings 21, the screw being manually operable by means of a cranlr handle 22.

The position of the horizontally movable support 18 relatively to the horizontal axis 14 of the telescope is determined by a suitable indicating means which moves .in concordance with the telescope to determine the range or distance of the object. This mechanism in the present instance is the same as that described in my application before mentioned and comprises an annulus 24 mounted on ball bearings to turn on the rotary support about an axis ceincident with the turning axis 5 of the latter, the annulus being inclosed by a housing 25 and carrying a crown gear 26 exposed at one point in order that a inion 27 on the screw -i'iexing thereof by the shaft 20 may mesh t erewith. On the upper face of the annulus is formed a spiral series of numbers ranging in the present instance from 2,000 to 12,000 and indicating in yards the distance of the object, the numbers being visible through a window 23 movable transversely of the scale in the manner described in my application, before mentioned.

The upper end of the horizontally movable support 18 carries a roller 28 which nieves on a track or guide 29 carried by the telescope7 and to be hereinafter described; and in order to adapt the range finder to different heights above sea level I construct the movable support so that it is extensible in order that its height may be proportional to the position of the instrument above sea level. In the present instance the support is composed of two members, an upper roller carrying member having a depending screw rod 30, and a lower member in the form of a hollow post receiving the upper portion and carrying the thumb nut 31 by which relative movement of the members is secured, suitable scales such as described in my application before mentioned being employed for determining the proper height of the support.

lf the traclr or guide 29 carried by the telescope be parallel to the Voptical axis of the telescope,land the telescope be adjusted so that the indicator reads 20G@ then the telescope will be directed at` the point A', and the object at this point A will be incorrectly positioned relatively to the cross hairs owing to the refraction of the atmosphere and the curvature of the earth. So in order to correct the indicating means for these errors the guide or traclr 29 is preferably made flexible and in the form of a steel bar, and is adjusted by a plurality of devices, two for the limits of the range ot the instrument and one or more, in this instance three, for positions intermediate the limits of the range.

All of the adjusting devices may be of like construction and each comprises in this instance a rotary thumb nut 32 having an upward extension 33 journaled in depending \oss 34 on the cradle and held therein by nuts 35. This thumb nut turns on a screw 36 which has a bifurcated member at its lower end, the flexible bar being arranged between the arms of the bifurcated member and between upper and lower fulcruins 37 ancL 38 thereon, the lower fulcrum being divided and having its two portions extending inwardly from the proximate faces of the arms of the bifurcated member, thus permitting the roller on the support to travel en the under face of the flexible bar. rlhe bar slides on the lulcrums due to the bending or adjusting devices, but to retain it in position, one of the vadjusting devices, preferably the middle one, has two pivot screws 39 which enter notches in. the side of the bar.

1n order that the finder may be used at night or when the known peints have been destroyed by an enemy, the adjusting de-V vices are provided with indicating means and in this way may be set to suit normal conditions at the known peints. The indicating means comprises a scale having 100 divisions and arranged on an upwardly projecting annular flange 40 on the thumb nut 32, an index 41 being carried by the cradle and coperating with the scale. Extending forwardly from the cradle is an adjustable counterweight 42 held by a set screw 43 and serving to prevent undue friction between the guide 29 and the horizontally movable support, thereby making the instrument quickly responsive to the operator.

1n operation the horizontally movable.

support 18 is adjusted to positions on the guide 29 corresponding to the positions of eiaiei the known points and at each adjustment the corresponding guide adjusting device is manipulated to correct for the curvature and the refraction at this point. After the correction for all the known points the linder will be substantially correct for unknown intermediate points.

A finder constructed in accordance with this invention is simple to operate and inexpensive to manufacture, and ermits correction of the indicating means "or refraction whether the line of the latter be irregular or curved.

l claim as my invention.

1. ln a range finder, the combination with a telescope mounted to turn about a horizontal axis, of indicating means for determining the distance of an object, devices for correcting the instrument for the curvature of the earth and the refraction of the atmosphere from two known points serving as the limitsof the range of the instrument, and a device for correcting the instrument for curvature of the earth and refraction of the atmosphere from a point intermediate said limits.

2. ln a range iinder, the combination with a telescope mounted to turn about a horizontal axis, of indicating means for determining the distance of an object, a horizontally movable support connected to the indicating means and turning the telescope about its axis, a guide upon which the support travels to determine the depression oi the telescope, devices for adjusting the guide to correcting the instrument for the curvature ofthe earth and refraction of the atmoshere from two known points, serving as the limits of the range of the instrument, and a device for adjusting the guide to correct the instrument lor the curvature of the earth and the retraction of the atmosphere from a known point intermediate the said limits.

ln a range iinder, the combination with a telescope mounted to turn about a horizontal axis, of a support having a horizontal movement proportional to the range, an indicating means operating on the movement of the support, a guide carried by the telescope, on which the support travels, devices lor adjusting the guide to correct the instrument for the curvature of the earth and the refraction oi the atmosphere from two known points serving as limits of the range of the instrument, and a device for adjusting the guide from an intermediate known point to correct for the curvature and the refraction.

Ll. 1n a range finder, the combination with a telescope mounted to turn about a horizontal axis, of indicating means for determining the distance of an object, a horizontally movable support connected to the indicating means and turning the telescope about its axis, a flexible guide upon which the support travels to determine the depression of the telescope, and devices for adjusting said guide to correct for curvature of the earth and the refraction of the atmosphere from a plurality of known points.

5. ln a range inder, the combination with a telescope mounted to turn about a horizontal axis, oi a support having a horizontal movement proportional to the range, an indicating means operating on the movement of the support, a flexible guide carried by the telescope and devices for adjusting the guide to correct for the curvature of the earth and the refraction of the atmosphere from a plurality of known points.

6. In a range linder, the combination with a telescope mounted to turn about a horizontal axis, of indicating means for determining the distance of an object, a horizontally movable support connected to the indicating means, a bar adjustably supported by the telescope and having the horizontally movable support movable thereon.

7. ln a range iinder, the combination with a telescope mounted to turn about a horizontal axis, of indicating means for determining the distance of an object, a. horizontally movable support connected to the indicating means, a guide bar on which the support travels, and bifurcated members adjustably secured to the telescope and having upper and lower Julcrums between which lthe bar is arranged.

8. 1n a range finder, the combination with a telescope mounted to turn about a horizontal axis, of indicating means for determining the distance of an object, a horizontally movable support connected to the indicating means, a guide bar on which the support travels, screws having the guide bar secured to their lower ends, and thumb nuts connected to the screws for moving them.

9. 1n a range finder, the combination with a telescope mounted to turn about a horizontal axis, of indicating means for determining the distance of an object, a horizontally movable support connected to the indicating means, a guide bar on which the support travels, thumb nuts secured to the telescope, screws operated by the thumb nuts, and bi- Jurcated members carried by the screws and having upper and lower fulcrums between which the guide bar is arranged.

10. In a range finder, the combination with a telescope mounted to turn about a horizontal axis, of indicating means for determining the distance of an object, a horizontally movable support connected to the indicating means, an adjustable guide on said telescope, and a counterweight acting on the telescope to prevent undue friction between the guide and the horizontally movable support.

11. 1n a range nder, the combination with a rotary support, of a cradle voted on port, and indicating means connected to the tho rotaysupport to turn about a lorzonal horizontally movable support.

axls, an avng a rearwarc extension, a te e- T1 v T Y scopo secured to the cradle, an adjustable D'SlDERIUS VOA NACY 5 guide Carried by the rearward extension of Vlitnesses;

the cradle, a horizontally movable Support HENRY C. THON,

movable on the guide and the rotary sup- D. M. SMITH. 

